Gutted
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Gutted
I've just started studying towards my PPL with a view of progressing as time goes on. I'm aware that the chances of being a pilot for one of the "big" airlines is slim, but I'd always fancied air taxi services and the like.
However, that all came to a big, crashing halt last night when I found out that because my eyesight is so bad (although it's fine with glasses) I don't meet the requirements to obtain a Class 1, only Class 2.
So I'm forever going to be in the private pilot club.
I'm gutted. I know there is a huge difference between saying you want to be a pro pilot and actually being a pro pilot, but I'd have liked to think I had a fighting chance. Apparently not.
So here's the question - What's the most fun you can have with a PPL, knowing that you'll never be able to make any money from it!?
However, that all came to a big, crashing halt last night when I found out that because my eyesight is so bad (although it's fine with glasses) I don't meet the requirements to obtain a Class 1, only Class 2.
So I'm forever going to be in the private pilot club.
I'm gutted. I know there is a huge difference between saying you want to be a pro pilot and actually being a pro pilot, but I'd have liked to think I had a fighting chance. Apparently not.
So here's the question - What's the most fun you can have with a PPL, knowing that you'll never be able to make any money from it!?
Hi Davey. Welcome to Pprune.
Sorry to hear about your disappointment, but later on you may realise that it was the best thing that ever happened to you.
Professional flying is far from the romantic notion that most people seem to have, and the novelty of a cool hat and stripey sleves soon wears very thin indeed.
If you want to fly, get a good job in an industry that has at least a little respect for you as an individual, get a PPL and fly for fun!
As to the fun you can have as a PPL holder, that's up to you. The possibilities are almost endless, and I'm sure that lots of people will follow me here, suggesting their particular favourite form of aviation.
Good luck!
MJ
Sorry to hear about your disappointment, but later on you may realise that it was the best thing that ever happened to you.
Professional flying is far from the romantic notion that most people seem to have, and the novelty of a cool hat and stripey sleves soon wears very thin indeed.
If you want to fly, get a good job in an industry that has at least a little respect for you as an individual, get a PPL and fly for fun!
As to the fun you can have as a PPL holder, that's up to you. The possibilities are almost endless, and I'm sure that lots of people will follow me here, suggesting their particular favourite form of aviation.
Good luck!
MJ
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Get your PPL. Then find a Cub or a Chipmunk. Get your tailwheel endorsement, then get checked out on Tiger Moths. Then get your aerobatics endorsement. Enjoy the immensely huge enjoyment-per-pound-sterling ratio that ensues from said course of actions.
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Hey, if it's fun you're after forget being an airline pilot. Aeros and stripping in a Chippy can't be beat for pure fun, or an L4 Cub on a summer's evening, whole side open, will be a load of experiences you'll never forget.
Get yourself a good job elsewhere, a job that will fund fun flying, like what I did.
Button pushing at all hours at someone else's beck and call in an automatic aeroplane is not something to aspire to.... The fun went out of airline flying many years (maybe decades) ago. And it doesn't even even pay well these days.
Get yourself a good job elsewhere, a job that will fund fun flying, like what I did.
Button pushing at all hours at someone else's beck and call in an automatic aeroplane is not something to aspire to.... The fun went out of airline flying many years (maybe decades) ago. And it doesn't even even pay well these days.
Can the OP instruct with a PPL and Class 2 ?
If so he/she could potentially have a very personally if not financially, rewarding part time job.
Also many regulators now allow surgery to correct vision problems, so maybe the CAA may one day move into the 20th Century ?
All that being said, sadly, the job of "airline pilot" is now much diminished from what it used to be......
If so he/she could potentially have a very personally if not financially, rewarding part time job.
Also many regulators now allow surgery to correct vision problems, so maybe the CAA may one day move into the 20th Century ?
All that being said, sadly, the job of "airline pilot" is now much diminished from what it used to be......
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As a PPL you'll have way more fun! Because that's the only reason to fly 
And you damn well make sure to enjoy it given the cost of flying
But serieus: if your hobby becomes your work, you no longer have a hobby...
And you damn well make sure to enjoy it given the cost of flying But serieus: if your hobby becomes your work, you no longer have a hobby...
- With a PPL you only fly because you want to, not because you have to
- You decide where to go, instead of the schedule
- You decide who (not) to take with you
- You can take as much fuel as you feel comfortable with (within M&B of course)
- You can own your own plane
Taildraggers and aeros have been mentioned.
Try gliding.
Try gliding.
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Hey Davey!
I sympathise. Was in your position not so long ago.
But I managed a 'restricted' Class 1 by meeting revalidation limits, which are wider than initial issue. The restriction was to be binned on issue of the CPL.
Try that? It's my way in, though I am limiting risk to my pocket by taking it slow and training in a modular fashion in case my eyeballs drop off a cliff again.
And agree that private flying is where the fun is. I hear it all the time from the pros.
Cap'n Bugsmasher
I sympathise. Was in your position not so long ago.
But I managed a 'restricted' Class 1 by meeting revalidation limits, which are wider than initial issue. The restriction was to be binned on issue of the CPL.
Try that? It's my way in, though I am limiting risk to my pocket by taking it slow and training in a modular fashion in case my eyeballs drop off a cliff again.
And agree that private flying is where the fun is. I hear it all the time from the pros.
Cap'n Bugsmasher
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Post PPL
Hi Davey,
In private flying there's an old, wry joke that conveys a world of truth: -
'If God had intended man to fly, he'd have given us more money'.
This really pinpoints the essential thing about private flying. It costs what for most people is a lot of money. So the more money you have the more flying you can do. Indeed the amount and interest value of the flying you can do is directly proportional to your financial resources.
So the advice I should give is to develop any career you like as long as it pays well. In private flying the ability to pay is all.
Best regards,
BP.
In private flying there's an old, wry joke that conveys a world of truth: -
'If God had intended man to fly, he'd have given us more money'.
This really pinpoints the essential thing about private flying. It costs what for most people is a lot of money. So the more money you have the more flying you can do. Indeed the amount and interest value of the flying you can do is directly proportional to your financial resources.
So the advice I should give is to develop any career you like as long as it pays well. In private flying the ability to pay is all.
Best regards,
BP.
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What is your current eyesight standard? May be worth looking at the possibilities of FAA or other countries where they just require "corrected vision" with no minimum standard?!
You could easily have a career in aviation outside of EASA/Europe if you strived for it. Look at all these British expats flying in Indonesia and the Middle east, who got themselves an ICAO CPL/IR, and were able to use it there.
Also, and I'm not condoning it, there are rumours of people "working around" the CAA eyesight requirements to get their class one - but that's all I'm saying.
You could easily have a career in aviation outside of EASA/Europe if you strived for it. Look at all these British expats flying in Indonesia and the Middle east, who got themselves an ICAO CPL/IR, and were able to use it there.
Also, and I'm not condoning it, there are rumours of people "working around" the CAA eyesight requirements to get their class one - but that's all I'm saying.
You can also be a microlight instructor (many of whom run successful businesses around that), commercial balloon pilot, or a gliding instructor. Or, do an aero-eng degree and go into my old profession of Flight Test Engineer.
You won't be an airline pilot without a class 1 - but there are numerous other ways in which you can be an aviation professional, a fair number of them flying roles.
Having spent all my career in aviation so far, many of those jobs with significant flying components, I've never felt any strong urge to be an airline pilot. Maybe the money would be nice, but there's far more available in life than being a shift worker who'll lose their job at the first failed medical.
G
You won't be an airline pilot without a class 1 - but there are numerous other ways in which you can be an aviation professional, a fair number of them flying roles.
Having spent all my career in aviation so far, many of those jobs with significant flying components, I've never felt any strong urge to be an airline pilot. Maybe the money would be nice, but there's far more available in life than being a shift worker who'll lose their job at the first failed medical.
G
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Depending how deep your pockets are, display flying allows you to claim "expenses" which, although it's unlikely to make you a living, will allow you to offset some or all of your flying costs.
The expensive part comes from getting the appropriate training and acquiring an aeroplane which people would actually like to watch.
The expensive part comes from getting the appropriate training and acquiring an aeroplane which people would actually like to watch.
Hi MJ has it spot on............
Yes its a blow , however you will get as much if not more out of life if you get into an aviation career that you can carry out and make your own and thoroughly enjoy - its not just about money etc , it's more beneficial to have a job you enjoy doing.
Having a PPL and flying when you want , where you want and how much you want can be a great plus , and superb escape when you want to " get out of the rat race "
You would be surprised at the number of folk who fly commercial stuff get paid a decent wage and then find aspects they don't agree with or dislike in some respect ! If you want to be constantly doing check rides and proficiency checks that's what being commercial or ATPL seems to be about............ remember Commercial flying is all about flying for the customer to provide a service .
The commercial industry is tangled up with far to much b******t and red tape , which sometimes can ruin the aspirations of the job , just get out in the sky with a PPL and enjoy ....
You never know you could end up a multi millionaire from any future career and have your own fleet of aircraft - but I haven't been that lucky !!
Fate is a funny old thing ...
Yes its a blow , however you will get as much if not more out of life if you get into an aviation career that you can carry out and make your own and thoroughly enjoy - its not just about money etc , it's more beneficial to have a job you enjoy doing.
Having a PPL and flying when you want , where you want and how much you want can be a great plus , and superb escape when you want to " get out of the rat race "
You would be surprised at the number of folk who fly commercial stuff get paid a decent wage and then find aspects they don't agree with or dislike in some respect ! If you want to be constantly doing check rides and proficiency checks that's what being commercial or ATPL seems to be about............ remember Commercial flying is all about flying for the customer to provide a service .
The commercial industry is tangled up with far to much b******t and red tape , which sometimes can ruin the aspirations of the job , just get out in the sky with a PPL and enjoy ....
You never know you could end up a multi millionaire from any future career and have your own fleet of aircraft - but I haven't been that lucky !!
Fate is a funny old thing ...
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Never been a professional pilot but I would imagine that apart from the very brief bird pulling opportunities presented when strutting thru the airport terminal dressed up like a South American dictator, the job would pretty much be like working for any other large publicly traded corporation nowadays. With you terrified of HR, HR groveling to Health and Saftey, H&S fighting with with the bean counters, the bean counters under strict orders to f$&k you from the C level guys, the C guys dancing to Wall Street and the lawyers tune with you the average working stiff getting shafted at every turn. Welcome to our brave new world.
As suggested above, PPL + taildragger + Sunday afternoon grass strip + no schedule = Happy Camper.
As suggested above, PPL + taildragger + Sunday afternoon grass strip + no schedule = Happy Camper.
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Davey
Go and get the class two medical you never know things may change in the future. As for commercial flying its easy for people who fly commercially to say don't bother because of all the modern day bulls*t, however if it is your ambition it is bitter pill to swallow to be told no you cannot do it and its out of your control.
With an EASA class two medical I believe you can become an instructor, do glider towing, para dropping, aircraft delivery etc and of course there is the FAA route who generally have a slightly different view on medical standards required, but as others have said, private flying is great fun with no commercial pressure from the customer just get in and go when you want where you want.
I would also find yourself an FAA medical examiner and just book a class one initial and see what happens you maybe surprised, as always if they don't ask the question don't divulge the information.
Go and get the class two medical you never know things may change in the future. As for commercial flying its easy for people who fly commercially to say don't bother because of all the modern day bulls*t, however if it is your ambition it is bitter pill to swallow to be told no you cannot do it and its out of your control.
With an EASA class two medical I believe you can become an instructor, do glider towing, para dropping, aircraft delivery etc and of course there is the FAA route who generally have a slightly different view on medical standards required, but as others have said, private flying is great fun with no commercial pressure from the customer just get in and go when you want where you want.
I would also find yourself an FAA medical examiner and just book a class one initial and see what happens you maybe surprised, as always if they don't ask the question don't divulge the information.
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Just a little advice: ask yourself "are you a pilot, or an airdriver?".
If you feel like a pilot addicted to flying, just get PPL and enjoy the joy of burning money upon flying. Who cares what wings you control (and private flying without 250 self loading freight cattle IS much more fun). Don't ask others about the details, just do YOUR thing.
If you feel like a pilot addicted to flying, just get PPL and enjoy the joy of burning money upon flying. Who cares what wings you control (and private flying without 250 self loading freight cattle IS much more fun). Don't ask others about the details, just do YOUR thing.
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As many have said, airline flying is not all it is cracked up to be,though it is better than sitting in some office, but with the likes of Ryanair ruining terms and conditions I suspect not even well paid in a few years time! I flew many years doing as you say, air taxi etc which is actually much more interesting - and you probably would have moved into the airlines in time, I did that but only because there is no money in the smaller end. For fun I still fly light aircraft and instruct so get a decent job and look at what flying YOU want to do - for me the most fun is aeros and Formation teaching, but everyone is individual and I know for some this is their worst nightmare!
At risk of repeating myself, there are also numerous rewarding jobs in aviation, many of them flying jobs, other than being an airline pilot. Some of those jobs require a class 1 medical, most don't.
Mind you pretty much all of them require hard work and dedication to get there. Nobody drifts into a good job in this industry, and most of them are good jobs.
G
Mind you pretty much all of them require hard work and dedication to get there. Nobody drifts into a good job in this industry, and most of them are good jobs.
G
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In 1987, I was told that due to eyesight that I would never have anything other than a class 3 and be nothing other than a private pilot.
I pursued another career which was more lucrative that aviation.
15 years later it was possible to get a class 1 and I did. Although it was too late the have a career in the airlines, I have a very enjoyable part time job as an instructor and get to fly lots of other aircraft and meet some fantastic people.
Things change, it will not be long before diabetics will be able to fly solo without safety pilots.
I pursued another career which was more lucrative that aviation.
15 years later it was possible to get a class 1 and I did. Although it was too late the have a career in the airlines, I have a very enjoyable part time job as an instructor and get to fly lots of other aircraft and meet some fantastic people.
Things change, it will not be long before diabetics will be able to fly solo without safety pilots.
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Hi All,
Thanks so much for your replies - it would seem that I have more options open to me that I first thought!
You're all right in what you're saying - a hobby becomes a job when you no longer enjoy it! I'm very early on in my flying and I'm thinking very far ahead. I think I was a little taken a back by the news and was feeling pretty low.
There's lots to think about and a couple of you who PM'ed me have given me some very good ideas.
Thanks again!
DJ
Thanks so much for your replies - it would seem that I have more options open to me that I first thought!
You're all right in what you're saying - a hobby becomes a job when you no longer enjoy it! I'm very early on in my flying and I'm thinking very far ahead. I think I was a little taken a back by the news and was feeling pretty low.
There's lots to think about and a couple of you who PM'ed me have given me some very good ideas.
Thanks again!
DJ